Gasoline – Fuel Efficiency

EPA: Automakers Exceeded Tailpipe Emissions Standards

Automakers mostly exceeded 2012 federal tailpipe emissions standards in the first year of the program with only Jaguar Range Rover falling short, according to an EPA report.

Overall, 2012 model-year light-duty vehicles sold in the U.S. produced an average of 286 grams of greenhouse gas (GHG) per mile, or 9.8 grams better than the 2012 standards required.

On average, vehicles reduced GHG emissions by 22 grams per mile over 2011 model-year vehicles. Compared to five years ago, there are twice as many sport utility vehicles and small trucks that achieve more than 25 miles per gallon and seven times as many cars at 40 mpg or higher.

Jaguar Range Rover was the only automaker who fell short of having enough credits to transfer into 2013 from earlier model years. The company fell short by 424,032 credits; each credit equates to 1 ton of carbon dioxide.

The automakers who finished the 2012 model year with the most emissions credits to transfer to 2013 included Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Ford, and Nissan. Rounding out the top 10 were Chrysler, Subaru, Mazda, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi.

The emissions compliance period covers 2012 to 2016. Automakers must also meet corporate average fuel economy standards. Read the full emissions report here.

The average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in December fell to 25 mpg — down 0.2 mpg from a revised November value, according to Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak, researchers from the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).

The national average price of unleaded gasoline jumped 5 cents to $2.49 per gallon in the first week of 2018 and has reached a level not seen since 2014 during the week that starts the new year, according to AAA.

China is setting a deadline for automakers to end the sale of fossil-fuel powered vehicles as the country looks to reduce oil consumption and pollution and push for the development of electric vehicles. Regulators are working on a timetable for the ban.